Japan Disaster Zone One Week On

01. A survivor sits with belongings he found in the debris of his destroyed house in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

One week ago the northeast part of Japan was rocked by a massive 8.9 earthquake followed up by a big tsunami. Complete villages were wiped away, thousands of people have died and many more are injured and missing. Rescue operations have been hampered by the total destruction of infastructure in the area and even by heavy snow. The nuclear powerplant of Fukushima I is still not stable and could give the world a second Chernobyl. People who have nothing left are living together in make shift shelters. The situation must seem hopeless, bleak, depressing and overwhelming, but the Japanese are getting through it without losing their dignity and the world’s thoughts are with them.

We have tried to find the most impressive images from the last week, which does mean some of them have been posted here before. Some images depict scenes of death.

02. A man walks past debris through Minamisanriku town on March 14, 2011, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

03. A man rides a bicycle at an area hit by earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, north of Japan, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

04. Oil leaks from ships swept by a tsunami in Fudai Village, Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake struck the area March 14, 2011. REUTERS/Yomiuri Shimbun

05. Soldiers and a rescue worker carry the body of a resident through Kesennuma City on March 15, 2011, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

06. A red umbrella is seen among the ruins as survivors walk past in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 16, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

07. A stuffed toy is seen amidst rubble at an area hit by earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, north of Japan, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

08. A Japan Air Self-Defense Force CH-47 Chinook helicopter collects water from the ocean to drop on the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima March 17, 2011. Operators of the quake-crippled nuclear plant in Japan again deployed military helicopters on Thursday in a bid to douse overheating reactors, as U.S. officials warned of the rising risk of a catastrophic radiation leak from spent fuel rods. REUTERS/Yomiuri

09. A house (L) is seen near destroyed sea walls at the port of a village hit by an earthquake and tsunami in Otsuchi, northeast Japan March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

10. Survivors react after collecting their belongings at their destroyed house in a village hit by an earthquake and tsunami in Otsuchi, northeast Japan March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

11. Rescue workers pay their final respects to a dead body retrieved from the rubble in Rikuzentakat, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

12. A victim's hand sticks out among the rubble after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake and tsunami struck Rikuzentakata, northern Japan March 13, 2011. Strong aftershocks continued to shake Japan's main island as the desperate search pressed on for survivors from Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. State broadcaster NHK said more than 10,000 people may have been killed as the wall of water hit, reducing whole towns to rubble. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

13. The body of a victim is marked with a pole after it was retrieved from the rubble in Rikuzentakat, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

14. A woman walks through a destroyed residential area in Rikuzentakat, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

15. Rescue workers search through the rubble for survivors in Rikuzentakat, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

16. A ship brought in by the tsunami is seen at a devastated area hit by the earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, north Japan, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

17. A man cries next to his destroyed house where his dead mother is still buried in the rubble at a devastated area hit by the earthquake and tsunami in Onagawa town in Miyagi Prefecture, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Yomiuri Shimbun

19. Rescue workers carry a body that they had retrieved from a damaged house in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture March 17, 2011,
days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami . REUTERS/Aly Song

20. A car is buried in mud and debris following an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

21. A fireflighter sprays water to clean a street in the debris in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

22. Emergency workers cut metal debris on a building in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

23. Japanese fire fighters lower the body of a victim from a two-story house at a village that was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, in Kamaishi, northeast Japan March 17, 2011. The bodies of one man and three women were found in the house. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

24. Japanese fire fighters carry the body of a victim from a two-story house at a village that was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, in Kamaishi, northeast Japan March 17, 2011. The bodies of one man and three women were found in the house. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

25. Vehicles travel along the destroyed landscape after the earthquake and tsunami in Minamisanriku City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Kyodo

26. A woman holds her baby at a shelter for survivors at a village that was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in Yamada, northeast Japan March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

27. A Japanese man walks before a prayer ceremony at Dharma Persada University in Jakarta March 17, 2011 for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Around 500 Japanese and Indonesian citizens gathered for the ceremony on Thursday night. REUTERS/Beawiharta

28. Lights are turned off during rolling blackouts in Misato City, Saitama Prefecture, after an earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan in this picture taken by Kyodo News on March 18, 2011. Tokyo Electric Power Co has announced rolling blackouts after its power generation was cut due to damage from an earthquake and tsunami to its Fukushima Daiichi power plant, where it is struggling to prevent reactor meltdowns. Mandatory Credit REUTERS/Kyodo

29. An aerial view taken from a helicopter from Japan's Self-Defence Force shows damage sustained at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex in this handout taken March 16, 2011 and released March 17, 2011. Japanese military helicopters and fire trucks poured water on the overheating nuclear facility on Thursday and the plant operator said electricity to part of the crippled complex could be restored in a desperate bid to avert catastrophe. The complex has been torn apart by four explosions since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit last Friday. REUTERS/Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO)/Handout

30. This satellite image of the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in Japan, taken by DigitalGlobe on March 17, shows damage to the Units 1, 3, and 4 reactor buildings. Steam can be seen venting from the Unit 2 reactor and Unit 3 reactor buildings. Additional damage can be seen to several other buildings approximately 350 meters north of the Unit 2 reactor building. MANDATORY CREDIT REUTERS/DigitalGlobe/Handout

31. Two girls ride their bicycles near debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture March 18, 2011, where an earthquake and tsunami hit last week. REUTERS/Aly Song

32. The body of a victim is covered with a blanket after it was retrieved from the rubble of Rikuzentakat, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

33. A woman cries after her mother's body was found in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture March 18, 2011. The area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11. Mandatory Credit REUTERS/Kyodo

34. Evacuee Kazuko Hiraushi, who lives in an evacuation center with her husband after their house was destroyed in the massive earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan a week earlier, observes a minute's silence in memory of the victims near a devastated area in Rikuzentakata, north Japan, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

35. A group of rescue workers observes a minute of silence to mourn for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

36. An employee of Tono municipal office observes a minute of silence in Tono, northern Japan March 18, 2011, to mark the one week anniversary of a deadly earthquake which triggered a tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

37. A man checks lists of evacuees at an evacuation center near a devastated area hit by massive earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan a week earlier, in Rikuzentakata, north Japan, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

38. People queue to buy gasoline at a village destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami a week ago in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northeast Japan March 18, 2011. The shutdown of a fifth of Japan's nuclear power capacity and nearly a third of its refining capacity following last week's killer quake and tsunami has resulted in a fuel shortage in the country. REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won

39. A family looks for their belongings amongst the debris of their destroyed house in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, where the earthquake and tsunami hit last week, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

40. Emergency workers walk past survivors sitting near debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, where the earthquake and tsunami hit last week, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

41. Emergency workers bow in front of a body they retrieved from the debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, where the earthquake and tsunami hit last week, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

42. An emergency worker writes information on a plastic sheet covering a body they retrieved from the debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, where the earthquake and tsunami hit last week, March 18, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

43. A man and boy walk between houses destroyed by a tsunami and earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

44. A man looks out over an area swept by a tsunami following an earthquake in Sendai City, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

45. Houses are swept by water following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-metre tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

46. Smoke rises from a burning factory following an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

47. Medical staff use a Geiger counter to screen a woman for possible radiation exposure at a public welfare centre in Hitachi City, Ibaraki, March 16, 2011, after she was evacuated from an area within 20km (12.4 miles) radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The woman was tested negative for radiation exposure. Radiation has been released into the atmosphere at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on the country's northeast coast, which was badly damaged after a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11. REUTERS/Asahi Shimbun

48. Houses swept by a tsunami are seen as residents walk in Kesen Numa, Miyagi prefecture March 12, 2011. The biggest earthquake on record to hit Japan rocked its northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that killed hundreds of people and swept away everything in its path. REUTERS/Kyodo

49. Cargo containers scattered by a tsunami following an earthquake are seen in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

50. An aerial view of a tsunami swamped Sendai Airport in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-metre tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

51. Officials in protective gear stand next to people from the evacuation area near the Fukushima Daini nuclear plant, in Koriyama, March 13, 2011. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano confirmed on Saturday there has been an explosion and radiation leakage at Tokyo Electric Power Co's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

52. Houses swept out to sea burn following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began 140 years ago struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships, cars and farm buildings on fire. REUTERS/YOMIURI

53. Houses are swept by the tsunami in Miyagi prefecture March 11, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. Picture taken March 11, 2011. REUTERS/Yomiuri

54. Houses are swept by a tsunami in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-metre tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

55. Buildings burn after an earthquake near Sendai Airport, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

56. Evacuees stand around Shinjuku Central Park in Tokyo Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

57. A massive tsunami hits the coastal areas of Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-metre (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. A tsunami warning has been issued for the entire Pacific basin except for the mainland United States and Canada following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. REUTERS/KYODO

58. A vehicle is half submerged at a crossroad after an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. Japan scaled back its tsunami warning for much of the country on Saturday, nearly 24 hours after a massive earthquake struck and set off a succession of tsunami, NHK television said. REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak

59. An injured survivor searches for food at a destroyed supermarket in the devastated residential area of Otsuchi March 15, 2011. In the fishermen town of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture, 12,000 out of a population of 15,000 have disappeared following last Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

60. Whirlpools are seen following a tsunami and earthquake in Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture, March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began 140 years ago struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships, cars and farm buildings on fire. REUTERS/YOMIURI

61. Boats are swept by a wave after a tsunami and earthquake in Asahikawa city March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan since records began 140 years ago struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships, cars and farm buildings on fire. REUTERS/YOMIURI

62. Cars swept by a tsunami are seen after an earthquake in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Yomiuri

63. Fires burn in a harbour following an earthquake and tsunami in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a four-metre (13-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline, NHK television and witnesses reported. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-metre tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. REUTERS/KYODO

64. A man who was trapped by a tsunami is rescued by a Japan Self-Defense Force soldier in Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Kyodo

65. People evacuate from their destroyed village after an earthquake in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people. REUTERS/Yomiuri

66. A combination photo made of still images from video footage March 14, 2011, shows the explosion at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex. A hydrogen explosion rocked a crippled nuclear power plant in Japan on Monday where authorities have been scrambling to avert a meltdown following Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/NTV via Reuters TV

67. A girl who has been isolated at a makeshift facility to screen, cleanse and isolate people with high radiation levels, looks at her dog through a window in Nihonmatsu, northern Japan, March 14, 2011, after a massive earthquake and tsunami that are feared to have killed more than 10,000 people. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao (JAPAN - Tags: DISASTER ANIMALS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

68. Medical staff use a Geiger counter to screen a photographer for possible radiation exposure at a public welfare center in Niigata, northern Japan March 16, 2011. Radiation has been released into the atmosphere at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on the country's northeast coast, which was badly damaged after a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

69. People watch the news on television at a collective shelter for survivors in Rikuzentakat, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 17, 2011. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

70. Civil defence relief workers stand together after an earthquake and tsunami swept through Otsuchi, in the Iwate prefecture, eastern Japan March 15, 2011. Otsuchi, situated on Japan's eastern coast, has ceased to exist, overwhelmed by a combination of earthquake, tsunami and fire that razed the town of 17,000 people on Friday, killing more than half the population in a matter of moments. The situation around the coastal town of Otsuchi was desperate, with people scavenging for food and rescue teams trying to put out forest fires, according to Patrick Fuller of the Red Cross international humanitarian group. REUTERS/International Red Cross/Handout

71. A woman cries while sitting on a road amid the destroyed city of Natori, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan March 13, 2011, after a massive earthquake and tsunami that are feared to have killed more than 10,000 people. Picture taken March 13, 2011. REUTERS/Asahi Shimbun

72. A Japan Self-Defense Forces officer smiles as he holds a four-month-old baby girl who was rescued along with her family members from their home in Ishimaki City, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 14, 2011. REUTERS/Yomiuri Shimbun

73. An emergency worker throws disinfectant powder in an area affected by an earthquake and tsunami in Miyako, Iwate prefecture March 14, 2011. REUTERS/Aly Song

74. A woman reacts after she was informed of the death of her relatives at an evacuation centre in Kesennuma Town, Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 15, 2011. REUTERS/Kyodo

75. Family photo albums are seen in ruins of the devastated residential area of tsunami hit Otsuchi March 15, 2011. In the fishermen town of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture, 12,000 out of a population of 15,000 have disappeared following Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

76. Rescue workers arrive to the devastated residential area of tsunami hit Otsuchi as the forest burns above the town March 15, 2011. In the fishermen town of Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture, 12,000 out of a population of 15,000 have disappeared following Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Aly Song

77. Firefighters fight a blaze in Kesennuma City, northeast Japan on March 15, 2011, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

78. Naval Aircrewman 2nd Class Chris Carringer, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, passes a resident a box of food delivered by an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter in Miyagi Prefecture, in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011. The squadron is assisting in relief efforts following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd/Handout

79. A rescue worker uses a two-way radio transceiver during heavy snowfall at a factory area devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northern Japan March 16, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

80. Heavy snow falls on rubble and rescue workers at a devastated factory area hit by an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northern Japan March 16, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

81. A house lies damaged in a river going through Kesennuma City on March 15, 2011, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. REUTERS/Adrees Latif